Search Toggle

Is plain packaging really responsible for declining smoking rates?

For decades Australian governments have been trying to reduce smoking rates with many different approaches. Nowadays smokers’ options to light up in public are severely restricted as public spaces and businesses have become ‘Smoke Free Zones’. But how successful have these attempts been? In 1973 the first step was taken with mandatory health warnings on all cigarette packets, followed by gradually introducing restrictions on advertising of tobacco products. In 2006 the government introduced graphic health image warnings to cigarette packets to show the health effects of smoking, and in 2012 introduced plain packaging, along with the graphic warnings, to dissuade people from smoking. Governments have a vested interest in reducing smoking rates from an economic perspective. Health care costs related to smoking are the biggest factor, as they effect not only smokers themselves but those who face complications from second hand smoke, or passive smoking.

Smoking rates have been steadily declining since the 1970’s, especially among younger people. But is this due to increased taxation and high prices of tobacco products or the introduction of new packaging laws?

2001 2004-5 2007-8 2011-2012
Males 27.2 26.2 23.0 18.3
Females 21.2 20.3 19.0 14.1
Total 22.3 21.3 19.1 16.3

Source: health.gov.au

This table shows smoking rates for men and women over 18 from 2001 to 2012. The graphic warning legislation was introduced in 2006 and there is a reduction in smoking rates between 2005 and 2007, but there is a much bigger drop by 2011, almost 5% for both females and males which was after a 25% increase in the tobacco excise in 2010. Increasing taxes aims to encourage smokers to fully consider the costs associated with it, but it also generates more tax revenue that can then be used to further tackle the problem.

 

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 7.09.28 PM
Source: health.gov.au

This graph shows that smoking rates have steadily declined for both 14-18 year olds and over 18’s, with adult rates falling from 26.1% in 1992 to 13.3% in 2013, after the introduction of plain packaging.

The introduction of plain packaging resulted in a number of ‘daily’ smokers cutting down to become ‘occasional’ smokers, reducing the amount they smoke and the sale of tobacco products in Australia. In 2013 it was reported that 12.8% of Australians smoked daily and another 3% classified themselves as occasional or weekly smokers. In 2010 15.9% were daily smokers while 1.6% were weekly smokers, showing that daily rates decreased with the new government measures.

What this data shows is that while changing packaging laws does reduce smoking rates, it is not as effective as increasing taxes in getting people to quit smoking which resulted in a much more significant drop. Restricting advertising and banning smoking in pubic has also proved to be effective given the constant decline in smoking rates since the 1980’s, but the decline is gradual. To completely tackle smoking there needs to be sustained education about the health dangers, but also it seems stronger measures such as raising prices so eventually everywhere can be a smoke free zone.

Recent Comments

1

[…] By Jamie Davies […]

Post Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *